latif لطيف
Tunisian Derja · interjection
“latif” (لطيف) is an interjection in Tunisian Derja meaning oh my God!.
Meanings
- oh my God!
- kind, gentle
- pleasant, mild
Usage
In derja, latif is heard mainly in the interjection ya latif (often written yalatif). It expresses surprise, worry, exasperation or admiration, like "oh my God!" or "I can't believe it!". Intonation shows the nuance: ya latif 3lik can be sympathetic, ironic or admiring. It was originally an invocation of God, but it is used without any religious intent. As an adjective, latif (kind, gentle, pleasant) exists, but it sounds a bit more formal. In daily speech, mezyen, behi or 7lou are often preferred.
Example
ما علاباليش غاذتني من اصحابي انا يالطيف تقول عمرهم ما شافوا بنيّة مزيانة
ma3labélich ghadhétni men as7abi ena yalatif t9oul 3morhom machéfou bnaya mziyéna
“I don't know, my friends got on my nerves, oh my God, as if they had never seen a pretty girl.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “latif” but also “yalatif”, “lteef” and “latiif”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.